What is the goal of an East Asian sumo-e brush?

The goal of an East Asian sumo-e brush is to capture the spirit of a subject. This approach emphasizes the expressive and interpretive aspects of painting rather than a strict adherence to realism or detailed representation. The use of the sumo-e brush allows artists to convey emotion, movement, and essence through fluid brushstrokes and dynamic forms, reflecting the artist's personal experience and perception of the subject rather than merely its physical characteristics.

In contrast, creating abstract forms might focus on non-representational elements, while defining rigid shapes tends to emphasize structure and clarity, moving away from the more expressive nature of sumo-e. Enhancing color depth generally involves techniques that are oriented towards vibrancy and saturation of hues, which may not align with the primary goal of capturing the intangible spirit in art as achieved with the sumo-e brush.